The Magic SOB forum is for posts of story sequences that are frequently vignette-based. Put those here while actual battle reports can go in Reports From the Field.You must talk like James T. Kirk in this forum at all times. Leonard Nimoy is fine too.

Hector Cheng: "Don't flatter yourself, kiddo. I know you can have anyone tracked."

Bowman: "Come on, Heck. You're as predictable as an hourglass."

Cheng: "I guess it has been a while since I've changed my schedule. Longer still since I've seen you, Bowman."

Bowman: "Enjoying retirement?"

Cheng: "I've had an exciting few years, but not nearly as exciting as you have, rising all the way to head of Military Intelligence."

Bowman: "You could have risen with me, you know."

Cheng: "Nah. I didn't have it in me after the eye. Don't think I would have, even if I was as young as you. But then again, you've always had the drive."

Bowman: "You do too."

Cheng: "Did."

Bowman: "..."

Cheng: "You're not just dropping in to say hello, are you?"

Bowman: "Sorry Heck, but we need you."

Cheng: "Kiddo, I have no desire to go back to work."

Bowman: "..."

Cheng:: "What? I'm enjoying my retirement."

Bowman: "You and I both know that's a lie."

Cheng: "Yeah, well..It's more enjoyable now than seven years ago."

Bowman: "Heck, it's just consulting work, and yes, it has to be you. No one in Intelligence knows as much about The Ronin as you."

Cheng: "Alright, shoot."

Bowman: "The idiots in the C.I.A. gave The Ronin a fleetbuster bomb."

Cheng: "Holy shit."

Bowman: "No kidding. Thankfully those idiots had the foresight to not give him the activation codes."

Cheng: "Then I don't see what the problem is, or why you need me. It'll take his boys at least a year to crack them. You've got plenty of time to bump him off before then...Unless someone knows those codes."

Bowman: "Dave?"

Dave: "Name's Carson Clark."

Dave: "He was the lead programmer behind the central Municipal A.I. of Cay City on Guymon, which is where this particular fleetbuster was built and programmed."

Cheng: "He's under arrest."

Bowman: "Apparently he had the A.I. hack into the government contracting database to award contracts to Cay City companies to boost the local economy."

Cheng:"Citizen of the year."

Dave: "Exactly. All of the data the A.I. processed, which includes the fleetbuster's activation codes, is stored in a high-density storage index implanted into Clark's head."

Cheng: "He's in a top-security prison on Guymon, right?"

Dave: "Yeah. And that's the problem. Guymon is right on the projected path of an Immortal Fleet. It's not a matter of if they land on Guymon, but when."

Ronin: "Let us not waste time with names, Underboss. Did you bring what I came for?"

Underboss Maria: "Of course. The Fleetbuster Bomb codes are in my briefcase. I can give you a Mafia guarantee."

Ronin: "That satisfies me. As for my side of the bargain, I assure you I brought sufficient funds."

Underboss Maria: "Oh, I don't doubt it. Still, I'll need to see it."

Ronin: "The case."

Mafioso: "It's all here."

Underboss Maria: "Let's get this over with, the-"

Guard: "hurk"

*thud*

Ronin: "What the hell?"

Underboss Maria: "Shit!Kill them!"

Ronin: "Gun them down! Now!"

Ronin Accountant: "Aieee!"

???: "Boys, I'd drop those guns if I were you..."

Hector Cheng: "...Because I really don't feel like gunning someone down on my first day out of retirement."

Mafioso: "I feel honored. The legendary Hector Cheng, out of retirement for this."

Hector Cheng: "You should be. Now here's what's going to happen."

Hector Cheng: "In one of those cases is the codes to a stolen Fleetbuster bomb. We'll be taking them. We'll be taking back the bomb too."

Ronin: "I'm not seeing a choice in this."

Hector Cheng: "That's because you don't have one. Right now my men are removing the bomb from the Reef. You'll be happy to know that most of your men surrendered without a fight."

Mafioso: "My friend may be fine with you robbing him, Cheng, but no one steals from the Mafia. You'll pay for this."

Hector Cheng: "Goddamn it."

Hector Cheng: "Huh. Looks like someone hit the Mafia before you got here."

Ronin: "What about the money?"

Hector Cheng: "Like I said: Someone killed the Mafia before your deal even began. Maybe one of the local triads? Either way, the money isn't my problem. Use it in your little revenge against the Celestial Kingdom, or whatever."